Transferring Credits

The information provided here is for students enrolling in the academic M.A. and Ph.D. in Mass Communication programs in the SJMC. Please see the M.A. in Professional Strategic Communication and M.A. in Health Journalism website for information about transferring credits to those degrees. 

Transferring credits toward a SJMC M.A. degree program

Master's degree students are required by the University of Minnesota Graduate School to complete at least 60 percent of the coursework for their official degree programs (excluding thesis credits) as registered University of Minnesota Graduate School students. With approval of the adviser, Director of Graduate Studies in the major (and Director of Graduate Studies in the minor, if the courses are for a designated minor), and the Graduate School, the transfer of up to 40 percent of the degree program coursework from any combination of the following is permitted:

1. Other recognized graduate institutions

2. Adult special, summer session, and College of Continuing Education registrations at the University of Minnesota.

No more than six credits of adult special, summer session, or CCE graduate-level coursework taken at the University of Minnesota before admission to the Graduate School may be used towards a SJMC degree.

Transferring credits toward a SJMC Ph.D. degree program

Students may request the transfer of the following types of course credits from the Graduate School after gaining approval from their adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies.

1. Graduate credits earned at other recognized graduate institutions may be applied to doctoral degrees if the coursework was taken as an enrolled, graduate, degree-seeking student and the credits appear on official graduate school transcripts. In the case of a transfer from an non-U.S. institution, the credits must have been earned in a program judged by the Graduate School to be comparable to a graduate degree program of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.

2. A maximum of 12 credits of graduate-level work completed in the College of Continuing Education may be transferred to the doctoral program. This applies only to credits earned in CCE at the University of Minnesota; extension credits earned at other institutions may not be transferred. University of Minnesota extension courses must bear the special CCE transcript entry showing they were completed for graduate credit.

Note: Transfer of graduate credit is not allowed for courses completed through independent (correspondence) study, completed through extension or special categories at other instutions, or taken before the awarding of a baccalaureate degree. See the Graduate School Catalog for complete transfer coursework guidelines.